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Standards Council seeks information on research needs addressing antifreeze usage in sprinklers
As part of its March 2011 decision to issue Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) on the use of antifreeze in sprinkler systems, NFPA’s Standards Council requested that affected parties report ongoing or necessary research on the issue. The Technical Correlating Committee on Automatic Sprinkler Systems submitted a list of research paths, including a need to confirm that standard spray sprinklers will perform in a similar fashion or better than residential sprinklers. The full-scale testing referenced in the TIAs deals solely with residential sprinklers, while the TIAs address both residential and standard spray sprinklers, a concept identified in the Fire Protection Research Foundation report as a future research project. The Standards Council encourages interested parties to provide information that helps close this research gap (PDF, 25 KB) or to initiate testing that would confirm the Technical Committee’s approach.

Research Foundation issues literature review on sprinkler insulation
The Fire Protection Research Foundation, an affiliate of NFPA, has conducted a literature review on the use of antifreeze in home fire sprinkler systems (PDF, 2 MB). This research was conducted at the request of NFPA’s Technical Committee on Residential Sprinkler Systems. Its scope was to identify and gather all pertinent articles that have been published in relation to the use of insulation within residential facilities to protect sprinkler piping from freezing conditions. 

Matthew KlausView online presentation on code changes impacting antifreeze usage in fire sprinkler systems
Matt Klaus, NFPA Senior Fire Protection Engineer, recently hosted a series of online presentations regarding changes to NFPA sprinkler-related codes. The changes were brought about by tentative interim amendments (TIAs) regarding the use of antifreeze in sprinkler systems. Watch the presentation.
NFPA issues updated Safety Alert regarding antifreeze in sprinkler systems
NOTE: This Safety Alert replaces previous antifreeze alerts dated July 2010 and August 2010.

Download the latest Safety Alert, issued April 5, 2011 (PDF, 119 KB) 

Background
Following reports of a fire incident involving a sprinkler system that contained a high concentration antifreeze solution, research and standards development activities were begun to address concerns raised by the combustibility of antifreeze solutions in residential sprinkler systems. As information became available, NFPA published two successive Safety Alerts providing guidance from NFPA in its role as a safety advocate and announcing Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to NFPA sprinkler standards that were issued by the NFPA Standards Council. The TIAs and the additional NFPA guidance offered in those Safety Alerts were interim actions while the responsible standards development Technical Committees reviewed the results of the research and reached consensus on further amendments to the NFPA sprinkler standards. 

The sprinkler committees have now completed the review and consideration of the issues related to the use of antifreeze in sprinkler systems and, based on the available information, have reached consensus on four TIAs that were issued by the NFPA Standards Council (PDF, 81 KB) on March 1, 2011. The four TIAs achieve a more comprehensive approach to the treatment of antifreeze in NFPA sprinkler standards, and provide new requirements for the use of antifreeze in both new and existing residential occupancies and in non-residential occupancies as well.

Video: NFPA Senior Engineer Matt Klaus talks about new TIAs regarding antifreeze in residential sprinklers.

New Requirements for Sprinkler Systems Containing Antifreeze – A Summary
The four new TIAs apply, respectively, to:

The previous TIAs that were issued by the Standards Council in August 2010 are no longer in effect. 

What follows is a general summary of the main new antifreeze requirements that the TIAs have added to the NFPA sprinkler standards. This summary does not describe all the details or all of the provisions; the applicable sprinkler standard, as amended by the new TIAs, should be directly consulted for a complete and accurate understanding of the requirements related to the use of antifreeze. 

  

NFPA further recommends

Consider alternatives to antifreeze. It is important to remember that, while the TIAs to the NFPA sprinkler standards allow the limited use of antifreeze as an option to address freeze potential, they do not require the use of antifreeze in sprinkler systems.  Both in designing new systems and evaluating existing systems, owners and contractors are encouraged to investigate other methods of maintaining wet pipe systems in environments where freezing of pipes may be a concern. Several alternative design options exist including the use of insulation, heating areas where sprinkler piping is run, or use of dry pipe and preaction systems in areas subject to freezing.

Use the minimum necessary concentration. Where antifreeze is used in sprinkler systems, the concentration of antifreeze solution used in the system should be limited to the minimum concentration necessary for the lowest anticipated temperatures. Of course, in no event should the minimum concentration ever exceed the concentrations permitted by the applicable NFPA sprinkler standard.

Initial testing. If not already completed, the testing required by the TIAs should be initiated as soon as possible and be conducted by a qualified individual. NFPA recommends that homeowners with residential sprinkler systems contact a local sprinkler contractor for assistance.
New Sprinkler Systems Containing Antifreeze – NFPA 13, NFPA 13D and NFPA 13R Sprinkler Systems
  • New systems are required to use only factory premixed antifreeze solutions. The maximum allowable concentration of glycerin for a new system is 48% by volume.
  • The maximum allowable concentration of propylene glycol for a new system is 38% by volume.
  • All factory premixed antifreeze solutions used in NFPA 13 and 13R systems must be provided with a certificate indicating the type of antifreeze, the concentration and the freezing point. Factory premixed antifreeze solutions of propylene glycol in excess of 40% by volume are permitted in ESFR (Early Suppression Fast Response) systems where the sprinklers are listed for such use in a specific application.
  • Factory premixed antifreeze solutions other than propylene glycol and glycerin are permitted only where they are specifically listed for use in sprinkler systems.
  • New systems, once installed, must be annually tested in the manner required for existing systems, summarized below.

Existing Sprinkler Systems Containing Antifreeze

Existing NFPA 13D Sprinkler Systems

  • NFPA13D systems must be tested annually by a qualified individual. NFPA 13D provides two alternative test procedures.  In the first alternative, the system is drained and two solution samples are taken, one near the beginning and one near the end of the draining process.  In the second alternative, the system is not drained and two solution samples are taken, one at the highest practical elevation and one at the lowest practical elevation of the system.
  • The two samples collected using either alternative procedure are then tested to verify that the specific gravity of both samples is similar. If the specific gravity of both samples is similar and if the system is found to contain factory premixed antifreeze solutions of either glycerin at a maximum concentration of 50% by volume or propylene glycol at a maximum concentration of 40% by volume (or other solutions listed specifically for use in fire protection systems), then the existing solution is allowed to remain in service. If these conditions are not met, the existing solution must be replaced with a premixed antifreeze solution of either glycerin at a maximum concentration of 50% by volume or propylene glycol at a maximum concentration of 40% by volume (or other solutions listed specifically for use in fire protection systems).
  • The concentration of antifreeze solutions shall be limited to the minimum necessary for the anticipated minimum temperature.
  • Following the annual test, a tag must be attached to the riser indicating the date of the last test, the type and concentration of antifreeze solution, the date the antifreeze was replaced (if applicable), the name and license number of the contractor that tested and/or replaced the antifreeze solution, a statement indicating if the entire system was drained and replaced with antifreeze and a warning to test the concentration of the solution at yearly intervals per NFPA 13D.

Existing NFPA 13 and NFPA 13R Sprinkler Systems

  • Antifreeze solutions systems must be tested annually, prior to the onset of freezing weather.
  • If it is determined that the solution found in the system is no longer permitted or if the type of anti-freeze cannot be reliably determined, the system must be drained and replaced with an acceptable factory premixed solution.
  • If the initial tests indicate that the solution type is acceptable, test samples must be taken at the top and bottom of each system (in some cases an additional sample must be taken).
  • If all the test samples indicate a concentration of glycerin not greater than 50% by volume or propylene glycol not greater than 40% by volume, then the solution is permitted and may remain in the system.
  • If any of the samples indicate a concentration in excess of the permissible maximum concentrations (i.e. 50% glycerin/40% propylene glycol), the system must be emptied and refilled with a factory premixed solution):
    - For newly introduced glycerin solutions, the solutions must be factory premixed solutions with a concentration not exceeding 48% by volume.
    - For newly introduced propylene glycol solutions, the solutions must be factory premixed solutions with a concentration not exceeding 38% by volume.
Archived documents

Safety Alerts

  • NFPA Safety Alert (PDF, 119 KB), issued April 5, 2011. Note: this Safety Alert replaced the following archived documents.
  • NFPA Safety Alert (PDF, 114 KB) issued August 18, 2010
  • NFPA Safety Alert (PDF, 98 KB) issued July 6, 2010

News releases 

Standards Council Decisions
Note: The TIAs that were issued by the Standards Council in August 2010 are no longer in effect.

  • Read the September 13, 2011, NFPA Standards Council minute item (PDF, 25 KB) requesting that interested parties report back to the Council information that helps close an identified research gap on the issue of antifreeze usage in sprinklers. 
  • Read the August 10, 2010, NFPA Standards Council decision (PDF, 81 KB) that issued the Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) on NFPA 13, 13D, and 13R, 2010 editions.

Reports from the Fire Protection Research Foundation

  • Sprinkler Insulation: A Literature Review (PDF, 2 MB) (July 2011)
    Recent research and experience with antifreeze in home fire sprinkler systems has resulted in limitations on its use in this application. This literature review was conducted at the request of NFPA’s Technical Committee on Residential Sprinkler Systems. Its scope is to identify and gather all pertinent articles that have been published in relation to the use of insulation within residential facilities to protect sprinkler piping from freezing conditions.
  • "Antifreeze Solutions in Home Fire Sprinkler Systems, Phase II Research Final Report" (PDF, 2 MB) (December 2010)
    This Final Report includes the results of a comprehensive test program on a range of propylene glycol and glycerin antifreeze solutions challenged in a range of fire scenarios, as well as additional analysis and recommendations for further study.
  • "Antifreeze Solutions in Home Fire Sprinkler Systems: Phase II Research Interim Report" (PDF, 2 MB) (2010)
    Under certain conditions, solutions of glycerin and propylene glycol antifreeze have been found to ignite when discharged from automatic sprinkler systems. This Interim Report has been prepared to outline the results of Phase II of the project, which includes further testing of propylene glycol and glycerin antifreeze solutions for a range of concentrations and operating conditions.
  • "Antifreeze Solutions in Home Fire Sprinkler Systems: Literature Review and Research Plan" (PDF, 1 MB) (2010)
    This report describes the results of a literature search on the impact of antifreeze solutions on the effectiveness of home fire sprinkler systems. Suggestions for further research are provided to provide a more complete analysis of currently permitted antifreeze solutions as well as to investigate other antifreeze solutions that could be used in sprinkler systems.
 

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